116 THE FOREST LANDS OF NORTHERN RUSSIA. 
trunk were obtained four boards of the following dimen- 
sions :— 
Trunks in diameter, 7 7k 8 83 9 93 10  vershs. 
Two inner boards, 9 x 3, 11 x 3, 11 x 3, 11 x3, 11 x3, 11x 3, 11 x8 inches’ 
Two outer boards, 9-1}, 11-14 11-14, 11-23, 11-23, 11-3, 11-3 59 
The charge, royalty, or tax, as it is called in Russia, is 
about Is 44d for every tree. Such is the charge throughout 
Russia, subject to modification by agreement or Imperial 
grant. And the tax, I was informed by the representative 
of the Company, was paid by them, and that on the same 
terms as any other purchaser. I was by another friend 
given to understand that while the Company was by their 
contract bound to fell or to pay for 60,000 trees, and in 
no one year to fell more than 200,000 trees, their annual 
operations were always much nearer to the latter number 
than to the former. 
I had found in several of the annual reports of the 
Imperial Forest Administration an entry of 5000 roubles 
as paid by the Onega Company. This, T learned from the 
representative of the Company, was in earlier years a rent 
paid by the Company for the saw-mills, which were then 
the property of the Government, and was a charge distinct 
from that made for the wood; but the saw-mills were 
subsequently purchased from the Government by the 
Company, and the charge for rent ceased. But when the 
number of forest officials required to mark what trees 
should be felled was increased the Company was required 
again to pay 5000 roubles a year, to cover the expenditure, 
and a charge for extra watchmen in the Onega district. I 
had remarked in later Government reports an annual entry 
of charges for extra forest watchmen at Onega. 
I was informed that oftener than once the Government 
had attempted to carry out the exploitation there ; but it 
was always with a loss, and the existing arrangement was 
deemed more satisfactory. 
By the Onega Wood Company sawn wood has been 
supplied for the market in France, and this may still be 
the case; but their trade is almost entirely with Britain, 
